US 12,495,867 B2
Bladders, footwear uppers including bladders, and articles of footwear including bladders in the upper
Patrick R. Case, Portland, OR (US); Yoon Jeong Choi, Portland, OR (US); James Molyneux, Portland, OR (US); Colin Runkle, Portland, OR (US); and Bryan K. Youngs, Beaverton, OR (US)
Assigned to NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed by NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed on Jul. 8, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/766,040.
Application 18/766,040 is a continuation of application No. 17/969,317, filed on Oct. 19, 2022, granted, now 12,053,053.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/277,903, filed on Nov. 10, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/277,941, filed on Nov. 10, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0358119 A1, Oct. 31, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A43B 23/02 (2006.01); A43B 21/28 (2006.01); A43B 21/32 (2006.01); A43C 11/14 (2006.01)
CPC A43B 23/029 (2013.01) [A43B 23/028 (2013.01); A43B 21/28 (2013.01); A43B 21/285 (2013.01); A43B 21/32 (2013.01); A43B 23/02 (2013.01); A43C 11/14 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An article of footwear, comprising:
a footwear upper base formed from one or more component parts and including: (i) an instep region, (ii) a heel-containing region, and (iii) a foot-receiving opening;
a bladder including: (i) a first instep chamber engaged with the instep region of the footwear upper base, the first instep chamber including a first major surface located at the instep region, (ii) a first heel and/or ankle support chamber engaged with the heel-containing region of the footwear upper base, and (iii) a first fluid line connecting the first instep chamber and the first heel and/or ankle support chamber, wherein the first fluid line extends along and proximate to a first side edge of the foot-receiving opening;
a sole structure engaged with the footwear upper base; and
a strap member having a first end engaged with at least one of the footwear upper base or the sole structure on a first side of the article of footwear, wherein the strap member includes a first strap portion that (i) extends across the first major surface and (ii) is configured to apply compressive force to the first instep chamber when the strap member is tightened to thereby move fluid through the first fluid line to the first heel and/or ankle support chamber.